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Extra-Inning Excitement in Game One

July 12, 2022

For the first time all season, the Birmingham Barons faced the Montgomery Biscuits. Neither team boasts a winning record, but both teams showcased superstar talent on Tuesday. Specifically, Montgomery's starting pitcher, Taj Bradley, ranks 33rd in all baseball. Conversely, the Barons recently called up their system's number two prospect, outfielder

For the first time all season, the Birmingham Barons faced the Montgomery Biscuits. Neither team boasts a winning record, but both teams showcased superstar talent on Tuesday. Specifically, Montgomery's starting pitcher, Taj Bradley, ranks 33rd in all baseball. Conversely, the Barons recently called up their system's number two prospect, outfielder Oscar Colas. However, it was the latter prospect doing the damage early on. In his first Double-A at-bat, Colas nubbed a ball off the bat's end, forcing a rapid throw that went wild and allowed Jose Rodriguez to score. Despite the throwing error, the official scoring called it a hit but not an RBI.

Furthermore, Yoelqui Cespedes added to the Barons' early lead by roping a double off the base of the right-field wall. Entering the day, Bradley posted a sub-one WHIP (walks + hits per innings pitched), but Tuesday's start endured significantly more baserunners than that. The Tampa Bay Rays' top prospect surrendered six baserunners in just two innings.

As for the Barons' pitchers, Kaleb Roper pitched the bulk of Tuesday but not before Brian Glowicki acted as an opener. In the first, Glowicki sat down the Biscuits quickly, ending with a punchout. Nevertheless, his day came to an end and Kaleb Roper replaced him. The right-handed pitcher struggled this year but initially looked like he'd left that in the past. However, in the third, Montgomery put four consecutive batters on base via single, single, walk, and a smashed double traveling at 107 miles per hour that cleared the bases, giving the Biscuits a 3-2 lead. Soon thereafter, a bloop single boosted the Biscuits' lead to two runs.

As a result, Kaleb Roper's day ended with a final line of 2.2 IP, 5 H, 4 ER, 2 BB, and five strikeouts. Similarly, Montgomery pulled their ace relatively early, ending his day after just three innings of five-hit, two-run baseball. In typical Rays fashion, pulling their starter early proved to be a poor decision. Caleb Sampen entered and almost immediately allowed a game-tying two-run home run to Evan Skoug. With the ballgame deadlocked at four apiece, both offenses settled down, as pitching began to control the night.

Birmingham's bullpen especially stood out as a dominant force in the back end of this ball game. Yoelvin Silven and Felix Paulino combined for an incredible line of 4.1 IP, 1 H, and four strikeouts (all for Paulino). On the flip side, the Biscuits bullpen covered three innings without allowing a single base hit before finally doing so in the bottom of the eighth. However, Birmingham's offense failed to cash in that runner, too, as this ballgame headed into the ninth still tied 4-4.

Fast forward, and we're heading to extra-innings as the excellent pitching carried on. Moreover, Barons' reliever Edgar Navarro finished the ninth and tenth without a scratch, giving Birmingham a beautiful opportunity to capture this ballgame in the 10th. With the top of the order due up, things looked promising. Moises Castillo began the frame with a flyout that failed to advance J.J. Muno to third. Then, Yoelqui Cespedes drew a walk that arguably is better for Montgomery since the double play was now in order. However, Craig Dedelow, one of the Barons' biggest hitters, yet strikeout leader, stepped in and ended his recent slump by roping a double just out of the reach of the left-fielder. As a result, Muno rounded third and casually walked home for the Barons' fourth extra-innings victory of the season.